Latest news, weather, high school sports for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

IRON RIVER -- As the political season begins to heat up, two congressional candidates are in the middle of a controversy.  First District Republican candidates, Dan Benishek and Don Hooper, had a private meeting in May, and what was discussed is up for debate.

According to an article by the conservative blog Red Dog Report on Monday, Benishek offered Hooper a campaign job if Hooper would quit the race.

Hooper has run for Michigan’s 1st District Congressional Seat in the last four elections and refused Benishek’s offer.

"I said, Dan if you were to offer me $10 million and put it right on the floor here I wouldn't drop out of this race, not for anything,” Hooper said.  “I can't think of any reason in the world why I would drop out."

Benishek didn't deny that the meeting took place and that he asked Hooper to drop out of the race.  The disagreement comes over what was offered to Hooper if he did so.  It's against the law to offer another candidate a paying job to drop out of a race.  Benishek said all he asked for was Hooper's support and possibly to volunteer.

"I think I'm in a good position to win this race if we can narrow the field a little bit,” said Benishek.  “So I thought talking to him would be a reasonable thing to do, and that's all I did.  I didn't offer him a job with the government or with my campaign."

Even though money wasn't discussed, Hooper feels a paying job was clearly implied in the conversation.

"Can you imagine not only dropping out of a campaign, but then working for him without any sustenance at all?  It's just ridiculous,” Hooper said.  “I can hardly afford to run around upholding my own campaign."

Benishek also said he spoke with another candidate, Tom Stillings, about dropping out and supporting his campaign.

Upper Michigan’s Source made calls to Stillings' campaign office which have not been returned.